Tuesday

Former President Bill Clinton (speaking at a press conference in New York) announced that 16 cities will receive financing to facilitate the transition to "go green" as part of global plan to reduce carbon emissions and save energy. The sixteen cities are based around the world and include New York, Chicago, Houston, Tokyo, Berlin, London, and Rome, among others.

Bill Clinton's foundation has arranged for four major energy service companies and five global banking institutions, which include Citi, JP Morgan Chase, and Deutsche Bank, to contribute $1 billion each to help finance the cities movement to "go green". The cities will perform widespread renovations of buildings and factories, utilizing new technology to cut carbon emissions and save energy.

Quoted in an Associated Press article on Yahoo News, former President Bill Clinton said, "If all buildings were as efficient as they could be, we'd be saving an enormous amount of energy and significantly reducing carbon emissions. Also, we'd be saving a ton of money."

Bill Clinton made the announcement alongside the mayors of several cities, including Mayor Bloomberg, who was quoted in the Associated Press article on Yahoo News as saying, ""It really is groundbreaking; it really is going to make a difference."

The meeting of Bill Clinton and the mayors is the second such meeting of the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit, which was created for the purpose of devising and sharing strategies to combat climate change and enable cities to become more energy-efficient.

Many cities across the world, including Chicago, have already taken steps to "go green", and have managed to save huge amounts in energy costs over the past several years as a result.

Bill Clinton wants his foundation to expand the number of cities that will receive financing in future months. In an Associated Press article on Yahoo News, Warren Karlenzig, author of "How Green Is Your City?", said, "The technology is there; it's just that the financing has been missing."

Wednesday

Going green is an intelligent, wise decision. With this guide, it will be quick and easy to find what you are looking for and you might even be surprised at how reasonably priced going green can be too. Why add update to your closet that are processed with chemicals and grown with pesticides, when you can buy clothing that is eco-friendly, cotton grown without chemical pesticides and processed with natural methods for less?

Saturday

Paper or plastic? This is the question that we hear almost every time we go shopping, but I'm here to tell you that the best answer is "neither." Reusable tote bags are not only eco friendly and good for the environment, they are also the gift that keeps on giving because they are reusable.

Reusable Tote Bags are the Way to Go

When plastic bags are processed, not only is it incredibly energy inefficient, but it creates a lot of pollution. The pollution is dangerous because when plastic is produced, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is released into the environment. PVC is a type of plastic which is not biodegradable, it is difficult to recycle, and any attempts to burn it will emit a harmful gas.

When considering the dangers of producing plastic bags, paper bags are just as bad because in fact, it takes four times more energy to manufacture a paper bag than than it does to manufacture a plastic one. Therefore, the paper vs. plastic debate has no clear winner and reusable tote bags are simply the best alternative.

You can even take the conversation one step further by considering the benefits of organic cotton tote bags. Organic cotton is safer for the environment than other fabrics because it is manufactured without the use of harsh chemicals. Organic cotton is also very soft and durable, so it can be trusted not to give in to the weight of a watermelon.

Thanks to celebrities who get photographed leaving Whole Foods with tote bags instead of paper and plastic, companies worldwide have taken notice and began producing chic and stylish bags. This means that you can still go green without having to go grocery shopping with an ugly sack for a tote bag. I've actually seen very high end designers come out with beautiful bags that you would want to use even if you weren't filling them with food.

Monday

People often wonder how they can involve their children in their efforts to go green. The best way to do this is by purchasing eco friendly toys, while explaining the importance of going green to the kids. This way, they can benefit from eco friendly products while learning a thing or two about sustainable living at the same time.

Eco Friendly Materials Make the Difference

When looking for the most environmentally safe toys, the materials used to make the toys can make all of the difference. For example, it is important to look for products that are made with water-based paint because the water base creates considerably fewer CO2 emissions and chemical waste. You should also try to stay away from imported toy products because the delivery process is incredibly inefficient.

I would also recommend using products that are made with rubber wood instead of regular wood. Rubber wood is more environmentally safe because it is sustainable. Along the same lines, it is best to buy dolls and action figures that are dressed with organic wool and cotton clothing. These organic fibers are better because they are harvested from plants that haven't been genetically altered or exposed to pesticides. For this reason, manufacturing organic wool and cotton is better for the environment because organic fibers do not create the type of chemical pollution that leads to global warming and the greenhouse effect.

If you are interested in giving a child an eco friendly birthday present, wrapping paper made from recycled materials would make a real difference. Also, after the present has been opened you can recycle the wrapping paper and continue the eco friendly cycle.

Friday

The 1940s brought about a change in the way builders insulated schools and homes. Asbestos was a widely accepted means of insulation, because it was affordable, easy to handle and fire retardant. After years of research, scientists have discovered just how dangerous asbestos can be when inhaled, especially in large quantities. Now, when people think of asbestos, they usually think of the harmful effects that it can cause to the lungs and respiratory system. Scientists and doctors now know that asbestos fibers and dust can be inhaled, where they lodge in the mesothelium, the lining surrounding vital internal organs. This is the only know cause of the deadly cancer known as mesothelioma. What people might not realize is that asbestos is not only harmful to the human body, but to the environment as well. While asbestos was banned in the 1970s, older buildings which have not been renovated may still contain asbestos.

Effects of Asbestos on the Environment

Asbestos is usually disposed of in landfills after secure placement in plastic bags. Landfills are used for disposal because there is a reduced atmospheric risk of wind picking up the asbestos and spreading the fibers. Landfills can be considered hazardous to the environment because they pollute the ground and increase the chances of contaminating groundwater. Landfills have been known to release greenhouse gases, which can be a danger to people living near the waste lands. The dumping of asbestos into landfills can contribute to the hazardous effects of landfills.

Today, we find asbestos in products we commonly use, such as brake pads, flooring felt, pipeline wrap, and commercial, corrugate and specialty papers. When these products begin to break down in landfills, asbestos can enter and contaminate the air and the water. If asbestos is released into the air, the small fibers can remain there for a long time. Larger pieces are heavier and will fall to the ground more quickly. The release of asbestos into the air poses potential issues to residents of the areas because the inhalation of asbestos is what causes different types of respiratory issues like mesothelioma. Because asbestos fibers cannot move through soil and dirt, they will not be broken down to other compounds that are found in the environment. This means asbestos stays in the environment for a long time.

Asbestos Found Naturally in the Environment

Widespread use of asbestos over many years, despite a ban on asbestos use in the building industry, continues to harm the environment. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, usually found in underground rock. More often than not, the contaminated rocks are too far underground to pose a hazard. These underground rocks cannot be easily disturbed, therefore they typically do not release the hazardous fibers.

Some areas of the world have asbestos-bearing rocks so close to the surface that human activity, such as construction work, can disturb the asbestos particles. Places in the United States that have asbestos rocks include parts of California, Virginia, and New Jersey. Other parts of the world, such as Turkey and Corsica, also have rocks that contain asbestos. Australia is particularly rich in asbestos, and it is here we see the highest incidence of mesothelioma cases

Article submitted by Amanda Gringer(guest blogger)

"Amanda Gringer, a recent graduate with a degree in Journalism enjoys guest blogging in her spare time, she finds it helps her to make her a more knowledgeable and well rounded person because she tackles issues that she normally wouldn't think to write about. Due to the current state of the economy this helps to keep Amanda on her toes"

Wednesday

A vacation is an excellent opportunity to go green because eco friendly traveling is better for your budget, and better for the environment. This is especially important to keep in mind if you are interested in visiting a foreign country where tourism can have a negative effect on the town and environment.

How to Go Green While on Vacation

A popular type of green travel is ecotourism, which involves traveling to a natural location where your tourism helps to sustain the local population and protect nature at the same time. For example, visiting a tropical destination such as the Amazon and buying a lot of the local goods in order to fuel their economy would be a good example.

Another type of green travel which is similar to ecotourism is sustainable tourism, which is the act of preserving natural resources and eco friendly cultures while traveling. An excellent example of sustainable tourism would be if you went backpacking through South America and along the way, you stayed at solar powered hotels and supported other types of alternative energy.

Backpacking in general is a really good example of how you can go green while you travel because backpacking doesn't involve using as much fuel as would be used if you either drove or flew. The downside of backpacking is that it is very exhausting. Therefore, if you don't plan on breaking a sweat during your vacation, there are still some eco friendly alternatives available.

One suggestion is to use a train or a ferry boat instead of driving or flying to every destination. You can also reduce your carbon footprint by staying at hotels and motels that practive eco friendly practices such as recycling and using renewable energy resources.